Accept One Another

This week we are in a meeting with the church in Trenton, Florida.

This a wonderful fellowship of enthusiastic, dedicated Christians are who letting their light shine in this rural part of Gilchrist county. You would be blessed by visiting them.

Our theme for the week is “Belonging to One Another.” Last night we presented a lesson entitled “Accepting One Another.” It based on Romans 14 and 15.

“Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God” (Rom. 15:7).

This is one of the approximately 59 “one another” commands in the New Testament. The word “accept” means “to take to one’s companion; to take by the hand and lead. To grant access to one’s heart; to take into friendship.”

Accepting one another is not just begrudgingly putting up with someone. It not just belonging to the same church, but ignoring and have nothing to do with others. It is to welcome them, to extend the right hand of fellowship; to extend to them all the prerogatives and privileges of every other member

We accept our fellow brothers and sisters because Christ has accepted us. We’ve been welcomed into fellowship with the lord. We’ve been forgiven for our sins. We’ve been made an heir of salvation. We belong to the Lord by his grace and mercy. Thus, we should accept others.

Because we are family, we accept one another. We belong to the family of believers (Gal. 6:10; Eph. 3:15). We share a common faith, are joined together by a common love, and are sustained by a common hope. We have the same Father. Jesus Christ is our elder brother. And the Holy Sprit dwells in us. Because we share the same blessings (Eph. 1:3). We accept one another.

We offered this acrostic that provides six avenues of acceptance.

Avoid Passing Judgment (14:1-4

“Accept him whose faith is weak, without passing judgment on disputable matters.” This involves matters of judgment–”disputable matters.” There are many areas that don’t involve specific commands or doctrinal issues, in which we have Christian liberty. Let’s be less critical of others, and more accepting.

Commit to live for Christ alone (15:5-12).

“If we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord”

The best way to get along with others and accept each other’s differences is to stay focused on Christ. Each of us is at different places on our journey. And each believer must be fully convinced in his own mind regarding matters of judgment, giving careful thought and prayerful consideration to his convictions. However, in all things, let’s make it our goal to please Jesus.

Control Yourself in Love (14:13-18).

Our liberty must be tempered with love. If you truly love your brother or sister in Christ, don’t do anything to discourage their faith, distract from their Christian walk, or cause them emotional and spiritual distress.

Edify Everyone You Can ((14:19-21)

Edify is to build up. It’s the opposite of destroy. “Love edifies” (1 Cor. 8:1). It is constructive. Positive. Encouraging. Uplifting. We edify our family by respecting, serving and cooperating together. “Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification.”

Privately Keep Your Convictions (14:22-23).

Too many people want their conscience to be the guide of everyone else. Obviously some things are explicit in the Bible. There’s no room for opinion. But there’s many issues that involve personal choice, and private conviction. These may involve celebration of holidays, choices in diet, type of education (public, private, or home school), political affiliation, military service, recreational activities, career choices, and social involvement. And many others.

Regarding personal opinions, Paul commanded, “The faith that you have, keep between yourself and God.”

Treasure People Like Jesus Does (Rom. 15:1-3).

Jesus is our model and motivation for treating others with respect, dignity, and loving compassion. Both His relationship with His apostles and His interaction with those seeking Him, provide lessons for us to emulate.

Let’s accept the weak among us. The struggling. The hurting. The disenfranchised by society. Those of a different race, class, culture or ethnic group. New Christians. Restored Christians. And those who’ve placed membership from other congregations.

Everyone craves acceptance. Josh McDowell was right when he wrote, “The bedrock of any relationship is acceptance.”

“Accept one another”

–Ken Weliever, The Preacherman